Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Timothy Charles Heffele, dob 4/18/83, Sioux Falls, was sentenced to the maximum term of 15 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary after pleading guilty to sexual contact with a child under the age of 16 years. The female child victim was age 4 at the time of the offense, which occurred in the spring of 2008 at defendant's Sioux Falls home. Defendant will be eligible for parole after serving 7½ years and completing the sex offender specific treatment program at the penitentiary, and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

MELISSA PIERSON SENTENCED FOR ROBBERY

Published 10/24/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 21, 2008 Circuit Court Judge Joseph Neiles sentenced Melissa Marie Pierson, 29 years of age, a Sioux Falls resident, to 12 years in the Penitentiary on the charge of Robbery and 3 consecutive years on the charge of Possession of Controlled Drug were suspended.

Pierson had been charged with using a handgun to rob the Food N’ Fuel store on North Kiwanis Avenue on April 9, 2008 and to rob the Shop N’ Cart store on East l2th Street on January 14, 2008. She had also been charged with 3 counts of Possession of Controlled Drug based upon police seizure of cocaine, ecstasy and LSD from her home.

CYRIL CASTAWAY SENTENCED

Published 10/24/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 23, 2008 after admitting he violated the probation conditions of his suspended Penitentiary sentence by consuming alcohol, falsely impersonating another and resisting arrest, Cyril Joseph Castaway, age 19, a Sioux Falls resident, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Joseph Neiles to serve 12 years in the Penitentiary.

Castaway had been convicted of Aggravated Assault and given a suspended sentence on March 31, 2008. The probation violations occurred in June and August, 2008.

MERLYN EAGLEHAWK SENTENCED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Published 10/24/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 22, 2008 Circuit Court Judge Joseph Neiles sentenced Merlyn Kyle Eaglehawk, age 24, a Sioux Falls resident, to serve 12 years in the Penitentiary on a charge of Aggravated Assault.

Eaglehawk assaulted the victim by hitting and kicking causing the victim to become unconscious and be hospitalized for several days. Eaglehawk had two prior non-violent felony convictions.

JOE BRIAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULTING JAILER

Published 10/24/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 21, 2008 Circuit Court Judge Joseph Neiles found Joseph Abraham Brian, age 29, a Sioux Fails resident, to have violated his probation conditions of his suspended sentences for Assaulting a Law Enforcement Officer and Failure to Appear and sentenced him to 2 years in the Penitentiary.

Brian violated his probation conditions by driving while under the influence in August, 2008 and by drinking alcohol again in September, 2008. Brian had been placed on probation on May 15, 2008. Brian had two other prior felony convictions.

SHANNON WARD SENTENCED FOR AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Published 10/9/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 7, 2008 Circuit Court Judge Bradley G. Zell sentenced Shannon Keith Ward, age 40, of Hickory, North Carolina, to serve 15 years in the SD Penitentiary for the felony crime of Aggravated Assault and adjudicated him liable to Sanford Health Systems for $68,000.00 in medical bills incurred by the victim.

Ward assaulted his girlfriend, Angela Leigh Stines, on February 25, 2008 at the

Roadway Motel, breaking her jaw in multiple places necessitating several surgeries. Ward pled guilty to Aggravated Assault on July 28, 2008.

The State alleged that Ward was an Habitual Criminal with 8 prior felony convictions in North Carolina.

DYE SENTENCED TO 75 YEARS

Published 8/12/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Clifforinado Dye Jr, dob 7-21-88, Sioux Falls, was sentenced to 75 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the September 2, 2007 forcible rape of a Sioux Falls woman at her home. He had earlier pled guilty to the charge and also had admitted to being a habitual offender as a result of two earlier North Carolina felony convictions for theft.

Dye will be eligible for parole after serving approximately 56 years when he will be 76 years of age.

PELTIER SENTENCED FOR RAPE OF CHILD

Published 7/28/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Patrick Wayne Peltier, dob 4/1/82, Sioux Falls, was sentenced in Minnehaha County Circuit Court to 50 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the May, 2007 rape of a 7 year old girl. Peltier had been convicted by a Minnehaha County jury in May, 2008, based upon the testimony of the victim and DNA evidence. Judge Joseph Neiles also sentenced the defendant to 15 years for sexual contact, to be served concurrently with the rape conviction. He will be eligible for parole in 2033.

ZIJAD IBRISEVIC CONVICTED OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Published 06/27/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On June 27, 2008, Zijad Ibrisevic (d.o.b. 11-13-81), of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was found guilty by a Minnehaha County jury of Aggravated Assault. The charge stems from a June 18, 2006 incident wherein Defendant and others brutally assaulted a victim in a parking lot in the area of l3th & Minnesota Avenue in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The victim had numerous broken bones in his face from being hit and kicked repeatedly. Two other codefendant’s are awaiting trial in the case, two additional codefendant’s still have warrants out for their arrest regarding the incident.

The Honorable William J. Srstka, Jr. ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Sentencing will be set at a later date, with Ibrisevic facing up to fifteen years in prison for the offense.

LAKENDRICK JERMAINE THORNTON SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY FOR DRUG OFFENSE

Published 06/04/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Lakendrick Jermaine Thornton (dob 04/29/78) pled guilty on June 4, 2008, to one count of Distribution of Controlled Drug or Substance, for an offense that occurred on December 20, 2007 Thornton admitted to selling methamphetamine. Thornton was sentenced by the Honorable Joseph Neiles to 7 years in the State Penitentiary.

TRAVIS MICHAEL VANWYK SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PENITENTIARY FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE

Published 06/04/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Travis Michael Vanwyk (dob 11/05/84) pled guilty on April 22, 2008, to one count of Possession of One to Ten Pounds of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, for an offense that occurred on January 23, 2008. He was involved in a scheme to bring marijuana and hashish into our community.

On June 4, 2008, the Honorable Joseph Neiles sentenced Vanwyk to 10 years in the State Penitentiary. Vanwyk’s co-defendants, who also pled guilty, are awaiting sentencing.

AARON THOMAS RECEIVES 15 YEAR PENITENTIARY SENTENCE FOR KILLING HIS FATHER

Published 05/23/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On May 23, 2008, Aaron Dean Thomas, d.o.b. 10-11-74, of 6508 W. Allysum Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was sentenced to 30 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary with 15 years suspended for the November 2, 2007 killing of his father. Mr. Thomas entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to Manslaughter in the First Degree on March 6, 2008.

The crime involved a November 2, 2007 altercation between Aaron Thomas and his father Gary Thomas at their residence at 6508 W. Allysum. Aaron Thomas left the house and retrieved a loaded shotgun from his pickup. Aaron Thomas returned to the house and fired one round from the shotgun into his father’s chest from a distance of six to ten feet, killing his father.

The Honorable Bradley Zell sentenced Defendant to 30 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary with 15 years suspended. The State had requested that Mr. Thomas serve a 40 year penitentiary sentence.

MIRANDA REDDAY SENTENCED

Published 05/21/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On May 20, 2008 Miranda Redday, age 28, was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Severson to 12 years in the penitentiary with 2 years suspended on the charge of Grand Theft from the Person and being an Habitual Criminal. On March 12, 2008

Miranda Redday had entered a plea of guilty to stealing all the clothes from the body Virgil Surrounded, Jr. and to being an Habitual Criminal.

Miranda Redday has two prior felony convictions of the offense of Escape.

On May 1, 2007 Surrounded was found laying on the ground outside his home naked, blood covered, unconscious and unresponsive. He was hospitalized for more than 40 days and underwent several surgeries to reconstruct his broken facial bones.

Miranda Redday’s brother, Roger Redday, Jr., age 27, was found guilty of Aggravated Assault and Grand Theft from the Person following a jury trial on November 2, 2007 and had admitted being an Habitual Criminal based on his prior Third Degree Burglary conviction. Roger Redday was sentenced by Judge Severson on December 18, 2007 to 25 years on Aggravated Assault and to a consecutive 15 years term on Grand Theft from the Person.

JERRY MARTENS SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS PENITENTIARY

Published 05/01/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Jerry Daniel Martens, dob 1/23/68, Sioux Falls, was sentenced on April 28, 2008, by Minnehaha County Circuit Judge Glen Severson to 15 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for Vehicular Battery in connection with the December automobile collision that resulted in serious injuries to a Sioux Falls single mother of three.

Martens was operating his vehicle in excess of 60 miles per hour in a 35 zone when he ran a red light and collided with a vehicle operated by Jackie Gillette. He had a blood alcohol level of 22%, nearly 3 times the legal limit, when he struck Ms. Gillette’s vehicle at 8:30 A.M. on Tuesday morning, December 18, 2007. Ms. Gillette was hospitalized with a broken pelvis and broken ribs.

Three years of the penitentiary sentence were suspended on the condition Martens pay restitution in excess of $40,000. His driver’s license was revoked for 10 years following his discharge from prison. This was Marten’s fourth felony conviction, and sixth DWI. He will be eligible for parole in 2017.

LLOYD ROWLEY SENTENCED - $100,000 BOND FORFEITED

Published 02/27/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Lloyd Rowley, 46, of Sioux Falls, was sentenced to 42 years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary by Judge Joseph Neiles for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Felony Intentional Damage to Property on February 29, 2008. Rowley had several prior felony convictions, and had been arrested as a result of an extensive investigation by the Sioux Falls area drug task force. Rowley had fled the State before his scheduled trial and was apprehended in Ohio on May 30, 2007, over a year later. David Backlund, a Mitchell residence, had posted a $100,000 cash bond for Rowley, and that bond was ordered forfeited in 2006 as a result of Rowley’s flight. On February 29, Backlund asked the Court to restore the bond, but Judge Neiles denied the request in an Order entered on March 12, 2008. The forfeited bond money was paid over to the Minnehaha County general fund.

PATRICIA CADY SENTENCED FOR MARIJUANA

Published 02/29/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On February 12, 2008, Circuit Court Judge Joseph Neiles sentenced Patricia Cady, a/k/a Patricia Heffner, age 31, of Sioux Falls, SD to 10 years in the Penitentiary based upon her guilty plea to Distribution of Marijuana more than ½ pound but less than 1 pound. She was also sentenced to a concurrent 2 year term for Possession of marijuana more than ½ pound but less than 1 pound arising from a separate incident. The State dismissed a third felony marijuana distribution charge arising from a third incident. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force composed of law enforcement officers from the Sioux Falls Police Department, the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department and the SD Division of Criminal Investigation.

JON GUNVOLDSON SENTENCED

Published 02/29/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On February 6, 2008, Circuit Court Judge Brad Zell sentenced Jon Gunvoldson, age 21, of Sioux Falls, SD to 5 years in the penitentiary with 4 years suspended upon his guilty plea to Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Law enforcement caught Gunvoldson in possession of one ounce of cocaine, one gram of methamphetamine and a small amount of marijuana on June 15, 2007. Gunvoldson admitted that he had sold one or more ounces of cocaine per day for the preceding 90 days making about $400 profit per ounce.

JUSTIN PAUL CRAWFORD SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS

Published 02/08/08

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On February 7, 2008, Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Severson sentenced Justin Paul Crawford, age 28, to 20 years in the penitentiary with 10 years suspended on the condition that he not commit any felony offense for 15 years based upon his guilty plea to First Degree Burglary. The State contended that Crawford struck 2 people with a baseball bat at a Sioux Falls residence on March 18, 2007, at a time when he was released on parole from a 2003 Aggravated Assault conviction.

ROGER DAVID REDDAY, JR. SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS

Published 12/18/07

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On December 18, 2007, Circuit Court Judge Glen A. Severson sentenced 26 year old Roger David Redday, Jr. to serve maximum and consecutive sentences in the South Dakota Penitentiary of 25 years for Aggravated Assault and 15 years for Grand Theft From the Person.

A Minnehaha County jury found Redday guilty on November 2, 2007 following a three day trial. The charges arose from the discovery of victim Virgil Surrounded’s naked and badly beaten body on May 1, 2007. Sioux Falls Police Department investigation resulted in Redday’s arrest about one hour later. When arrested, Redday was wearing shoes, pants and a shirt that the South Dakota Forensic Lab found by DNA examination to be stained with the victim’s blood. The victim’s blood was also found on the vehicle Redday was in when arrested. Following up on the reports of citizens, police found most of the victim’s bloody clothing where it had been discarded by Redday as he left the scene.

Victim Virgil Surrounded was hospitalized at Avera-McKennan Hospital until June 11 where he received lengthy intensive care, surgery to repair broken facial bones and rehabilitation.

Charges remain pending against Roger Redday’s sister, Miranda Redday, and anyone with information concerning her whereabouts should contact the Sioux Falls Police Department.

HUY ANH LAM and TUAN QUOC HUYNH RECEIVE FIVE YEAR PENITENTIARY SENTENCES

Published 12/12/07

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On October 3, 2007, Huy Anh Lam, dob 7/5/77, and Tuan Quoc Huynh, dob 1/1/73, both residents of Worcester, Massachusetts, were found guilty by a Minnehaha County Jury of Possession of More Than Ten Pounds of Marijuana and Possession of One Pound or More of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute. The charges stemmed from a routine traffic stop on Interstate 90 by the South Dakota Highway Patrol on January 21, 2006, at approximately 12:50 a.m. The Defendants had rented a car in Seattle, Washington, and were transporting between 30 and 50 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of the car to the Boston area. Trooper Christopher Koltz and his trained drug detection dog, Roman, located the marijuana in the trunk of the car. The marijuana has an estimated street value of between $240,000.00 and $395,600.00.

The Honorable Joseph Neiles sentenced Huy Anh Lam on December 10, 2007, to five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the Possession of More than Ten Pounds of Marijuna and to five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the Possession of One Pound or More of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute. The two sentences are to run concurrent.

Tuan Quoc Huynh was sentenced by the Honorable Joseph Neiles on December 12, 2007, to five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the Possession of More than Ten Pounds of Marijuna and to five years in the South Dakota State Penitentiary for the Possession of One Pound or More of Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute, his sentences are also to run concurrent.